IH Year in Review 2016/17 (digital)

YEAR in REVIEW

t Brotherhood ThaM ay Prevail

BRISBANE

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE

International House Brisbane 2016-2017

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT

CONTENTS

President Ms Meryl McKenzie

Director’s Report

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Deputy President Mr Peter Gibson

Artist in Residence – Jakob Perrett

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Honorary Secretary Ms Jane Milburn

Major Renovations Get the Thumbs Up!

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Honorary Treasurer Mr Mark Burnham (resigned October 2016) Mr Chris Leon

2016 International House

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UQ Senate Representative Mr Rob Moffatt AM Member Dr Carla Tromans Mr Ross Landsberg (appointed April 2016) Ms Karen Gibson Ms Peta Irvine Mr Geoff McGlashan (resigned April 2016)

Student Club President Report Brotherhood Brunch

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IH Fast Facts

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Finance

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IHSC President 2016 Ms Jacqui Chiu

Fundraising Tee Off – Golf Day success

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BOM Representative Mr Johnathan Chan

Peace and Understanding – Fred Smith

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International House Worldwide Inc

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On Tour with Director, Dr Carla Tromans

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Indigenous Youth Leadership Camp

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City Hall Honour for Housie Tiffany Shar

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Fan Mail

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International House Foundation Ltd Chair Ms Peta Irvine Treasurer Mr Mark Fenton

Secretary Ms Tarli Young Director Mr Mark Vincent Ms Kristie Fankhauser Mr Joss Douglas Dr Carla Tromans

DIRECTORS REPORT International House (IH) has been my home for the past 14 years and in that time I’ve seen many changes, but one thing always remains the same, our residents and the IH commitment to Brotherhood.

I often wonder if Harry Edmonds ever knew that his chance meeting in New York in 1909 would be the catalyst for the movement that would later become International Houses Worldwide (IHWW) Inc.

Harry Edmonds, “One frosty morning I was going up the steps in front of the Columbia Library, when I met a Chinese student coming down. I said ‘’Good Morning”. As I passed on I noticed that he had stopped. So I went back to him. He said, “Thank you for speaking to me; I have been in New York for three weeks and you are the first person who has spoken to me!”

This fateful encounter prompted Harry to enlist the help of his friend JD Rockefeller Jnr, to purpose build I-House New York in 1924, the beginning of IHWW. I-House Brisbane

Liveable, Sustainable Environment

I-House Brisbane is synonymous for its towers designed by award-winning architect Stephen Trotter. Over the past year we’ve undergone major refurbishments to bedrooms and common rooms in D, E and F Towers. Technical upgrades including VOIP and WiFi have been installed to the College infrastructure improving speed and efficiency. StarRez a web based market leader in housing and conference systems was also implemented.

Engaged Partnerships

IHWW Conference in London Brotherhood Brunch Scholarship Awards and Fellows’ Induction Peace and Understanding – Fred Smith

Social Mission

100% Occupancy 40 Nationalities 50 Tutorials/Semester GPA 5.2 50 residents graduated

Appointments My role as a UQ Senator, Director on the Unimutual Ltd (Insurance) Board, Vice President of University Colleges Australia (UCA) provides me with invaluable insight into the university and college sectors. In this time of rapidly increasing market competition, particularly from nontraditional accommodation providers it’s crucial for IH to protect our legacy moving forward.

Farewell It’s farewell but not goodbye to some exceptional Board of Management Members this past year, Ms Meryl McKenzie (President), Mr Mark Burnham (Honorary Treasurer) and Ms Jane Milburn (Honorary Secretary). I wish to extend my sincere thanks for their dedicated and voluntary service over such a long period of time.

Director

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Image: L-R Ms Jane Milburn, Mr Mark Burnham, Ms Meryl McKenzie

International House has been a ‘home away from home’ for over 6,000 young people from all around the world since 1965 ROW 2: Jacqui Chiu, Josef Miklavc, Patrick Liu, Bregy Chow FRONT: Amber Bitzer, Jakob Perrett, Johnathan Chan, Carla Tromans (Director), Yohan Nair (Deputy Director), George Britchford, Lucy Hammond, Lisa Anich SENIOR RESIDENTS

“LA LUNE” PAINTED BY: JAKOB PERRETT DESCRIPTION: “LA LUNE” PAINTED BY: JAKOB PERRETT DESCRIPTION: The artwork “La Lune” is a surrealist depiction of the degradation of our Great Barrier Reef.

Continuing on our current path, the beauty of our wildlife will soon be out of reach. We treat it as though it will always be there and in sight, much like the moon (hence the title) B0013 - QUEEN ST & WILLIAM ST, BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

Urban Smart Project This project features original artworks on Traffic Signal Boxes (TSBs) across Brisbane. Over 100 local artists have painted TSBs in a program designed to improve the aesthetic landscape of our city.

IH alumnus Jakob Perrett was a 2016 Urban Smart artist.

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RENOVATIONS Renovations Get Thumbs Up From Alumni & Residents With the worry of exams behind them residents packed their bags and said goodbye for the 2016 Christmas holiday break, but there was no R&R for IH. When Housies moved out the builders swooped in, with the College effectively becoming a fully fledged construction zone to undertake major renovations to D, E and F tower, common rooms and five bedrooms in G tower.

Thanks to the generous response to our 2016 Annual Appeal, interior and exterior painting, new carpet, contemporary furniture and LED lighting were included in the IH revamp.

The capital works impressed 2008 alumni Joss Douglas and Sanghyun Yang on a return visit to International House. The pair joined current residents to check out their old haunts like E common room.

Joss, a current IH Foundation Board Ltd. Member gave the renovations his seal of approval.

“They work looks excellent and it’s great to see that some original common room features remain in place like the fireplace and hardwood built-in bookshelves,” said Joss.

Sang agreed, “The common room is such an essential part of IH, I’ve spent countless hours in these rooms making memories, both good and bad (sorry Carla!).”

The current SRs and alumni enjoyed swapping stories and comparing notes. “I don’t recall my SR study being this bright, big or tidy,” Sang mused. “Personally, coming from overseas and instantly making 200+ new friends made my transition very easy. University can teach you technical skills but College is where you learn human skills. IH definitely does this well with the extra bonus of being multicultural“ .

It’s a sentiment shared by current resident Georgia Esplin, “My favourite thing is the welcoming vibe that I got from IH as soon as I started,” said Georgia. “But l do love my bedroom makeover especially the king single bed upgrade.“

Kazuki Izumi, Sofia Stewart, Harry Brookes

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Sanghyun Yang, Joss Douglas alumni 2008 with current IH residents including 2017 IHSC President, George Britchford (far left on couch)

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IHSC PRESIDENT REPORT IHSC President Report 2016 From the get-go, our excited and passionate 2016 executive committee was abuzz with anticipation for the year ahead. We could not wait for our visions and ideas to materialise! O-Week was a massive success with more breakfast and dinner exchanges than ever before, giving our freshers the opportunity to make friends from every college. Our athleticism was showcased after we reigned victorious at the FROTH Olympics, bringing home the very first trophy. Other colleges knew from then on that we’d be tough ICC competitors.

First event on the calendar was IH’s signature event, Bandfest - the biggest and best music show on campus. Our amazing convenors worked around the clock to coordinate every detail. Under their leadership, our back carpark was transformed into a concert arena – fit for even the biggest names in Hollywood. Energetic crowds flooded through our gates. A sea of unique tie-dyed Bandfest shirts filled the mosh pit. Mouth-watering snacks from the food truck were devoured. Mobs danced away to the spectacular live music performances. It was an incredible evening.

At our Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, the most delectable treats were on offer – unlimited amounts of scrumptious cupcakes, cookies, milkshakes and jam drops. For those with a more savoury palate, vegemite scrolls, sausage rolls and meat pies were served. It was a tranquil afternoon as we all cozied up in blankets, relaxing on I-Plaza to enjoy the treats prepared by our wonderful Sunday Supper Girls and their hardworking team.

IH may not typically dominate the sporting field, but never underestimate the underdogs! Led by our athletic 2016 Sport reps, we began with a golden streak – champions in badminton and table tennis, followed by an “unexpected” third place finish at the ICC Swimming Carnival. These successes made IH the ICC sports champion (for a little while...)! Our volleyball girls also brought home the championship title for the third year in a row. Yet most importantly, Housies continued trying sports they’ve never heard of before. We’ve also had a rise in the number of enthusiastic supporters joining our cheer squad, thanks to the introduction of an online merchandise shop. Our dedicated and loving community is something we cherish more than any sporting victory!

Our strength in cultural activities continued with spirited debaters, entrancing choralists, transformative performers and skilful dancers. At each and every performance, our Housies dazzled us with their hidden talents and artistic finesse. This level of enthusiasm and daringness is what we love to see and continue to nurture at IH. We continued to celebrate diversity and acceptance by exploring a wide range of cultures and activities. Our crosscultural representative successfully coordinated a multitude events such as Diwali festival, Day of the Dead Evening, Luau, French film night, and Mid-Autumn festival, just to name a few! Not only were the attendance rates phenomenal, these nights have continued to serve as the cornerstone for our IH way of life.

The spirit of brotherhood was also on show during the year. Housies made sure to set aside time to get to know one another, creating a welcoming social atmosphere. Our biggest social event was the Roaring Twenties Gala Ball - an evening of old school glamour thoroughly enjoyed by all. Our socialisation was not limited to just current residents. The IH Alumni vs Resident Lawn Bowls was a nostalgic event, bringing together different generations to compete in friendly matches. Residents also had the opportunity to gain ‘real world’ experience from mentoring and professional workshops offered by alumni throughout the year.

IH is a place of thrilling memories and rich friendships. With the conclusion of another year, tears flowed as Housies left for overseas. But we will always be connected by this unique IH experience. After all it is never a goodbye, only a see you later.

“Once a Housie Always a Housie” By Jacqui Chiu

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BROTHERHOOD BRUNCH On a sunny April morning alumni, donors, residents, parents and friends of IH gathered on I-Plaza to celebrate the Brotherhood Brunch. A stunning long lunch table, set with silver service and fragrant flowers stretched along the rich timber decking.

As IH Chef Gary Cox and his kitchen team delivered a delicious meal, guests relaxed, friends old and new enjoying animated conversation and a glass of wine.

Ringing of the IH bell signalled the close of lunch and summoned guests to I-House for the official proceedings, a ceremony for the 2017 Honorary Fellows and IH Scholarship recipients.

Excitement filled the air as scholarships were awarded.

The Alumni Scholarship – Tallara Drew-Hazou IH Way Bursary – Kazuki Izumi, Lea Lai Van Indigenous Scholarship – Matt O’Brien Director’s Recommendation Scholarship – Isabella Sharpe Jarrah Young Memorial – Alison Collins McKenzie Bursary – Daiki Suzuki, Lea Lai Van Next, laughter and tears followed as Dr Ian Keys (1st IHSC President), Dr John Teh, AM (2nd IHSC President), Dr John Morrison (former BOM President) and the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) were inducted as honorary Fellows by the IH Foundation Ltd. The recollection of shared College memories and multicultural ideals stirred profound emotions, eliciting proud and extremely moving personal responses from our IH Fellows.

There were just 64 gentlemen who called IH home when the College opened in 1965, Chinese-Malaysian student Dr John Teh (AM) was one of them. Returning to College 5 decades later, newly inducted Fellow Dr John Teh (AM) recalled his years at International House as a time of comfort and sanctuary.

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Fighting back tears Dr Teh AM said, “We need more IHs, more places like this.”

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International House (ABN 98 372 412 842) is a Cosmopolitan College within The University of Queensland (UQ). Š Copyright International House 2016 Images Š Patrick Hamilton & DOM Photography.

Our 2016 and 2017 Cohort...

27, 031 Volunteer hours generated by residents

Christmas Cards Sent: 275

5 Rotary Clubs hosted meeting at IH

40 Nationalities represented

112 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander High School students have participated in IYLC since 2012

Events: Bara Khana (formal dinner) each month 1 SoirĂŠe 10 ICC Cultural Events 1 Bandfest

28% of undergraduates received a GPA of 6 or above

D, E and F Tower 57 bedrooms renovated Common Rooms renovated Bathrooms painted The Sir Clem Renouf Tower (G Tower) 5 bedrooms renovated

Volunteering: Georgia Pontifex raised $500 for Minus18 Housies supported Red Cross, Make a Wish Foundation,

Food consumed per year 1800kgs tomatoes 2340 loaves of bread 720kgs of cheese 1440kgs of fresh chicken breast

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Care Australia and R U OK Approximately $100 was raised towards these charities

5 Star Eat Safe Rating Compass

7 International House eNewletters distributed

Best Facebook result: 19,430 People Reached 9200+ Views 214 Reactions

26 School Visits conducted for prospective residents

4 Sunday Suppers 2 Variety Night 1 Valedictory Dinner 1 Mad Hatter Tea Party 1 Mid Autumn Festival 1 Holi Celebration

24 Housies gave up their holidays to Mentor at IYLC 2016

An average of 45 residents attending a minimum of 1 cross cultural activity per week

Scholarships: 2 Indigenous Scholarships 2 Financial Hardship The Jarrah Young Memorial Scholarship 5 IH Way Bursaries

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B Tower Semester 1, won the 2016 Inter-Tower Academic Award for having the highest cumulative GPA of 5.45

IHWW Inc Conference held in London

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E Tower Semester 2, won the 2016 Inter-Tower Academic Award for having the highest cumulative GPA of 5.4

FAST FACTS 13

IH-Expenses as % of Resident Fees-2016 year

FINANCE Audited Financial Reports International House (Calendar Year – 2016)

Resident Operations Income $5,079,355 Expenditure $4,148,979

Conference Operations Income $138,955 Expenditure $ 57,766

College Refurbishments $737,216

IH Foundation Limited (Transitional Period 6 months to 31 December 2016) Income $ 74,316 Expenditure $ 49,147 Net Assets $486,570

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Catering Wages & on-costs Depreciation Interest & Finance costs Cleaning expenses Repairs & Maintenance Electricity, Gas & Water IT Expenses Other Expenses 13.8% 20.2% 2.3% 5.0%

3.2% 5.4%

21.3%

4.4%

9.4%

COMMUNITY MOMENTS

During the last year International House Brisbane was proud to host a golf day to raise money to support resident life alongside Hybris Concepts, a long term supporter of the college.

We were also honoured to welcome Fred Smith to our college for a Peace and Understanding lecture.

International House

Presents

2016 Peace & Understanding Lecture

Fred Smith was the first Australian diplomat to be posted to Uruzgan in July of 2009. He wrote a powerful collection of songs about the realities of life for soldiers and civilians in this difficult war, recently released on a highly acclaimed album called Dust of Uruzgan.

Over the last 15 years Fred has emerged as one of Australia’s most interesting songwriters. He has spent years working on peace-keeping missions in Afghanistan and the South Pacific, touring in America and travelling the Australian festival circuit.

'Love, Peace & Understanding in a War Zone' Delivered By Fred Smith Australian Diplomat

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INTERNATIONAL HOUSES WORLDWIDE (IHWW)

The Directors of the International Houses meet formally every 18 months. In June 2016, there was a meeting in London attended by IH Brisbane Director Dr Carla Tromans .

Sean Wong (resident), Kwok Yen Wong (alumnus 1988) and Dr Carla Tromans (Director)

Alumni Keeping alumni ties is important to us, and to recognise College loyalty International House has initiated The Alumni Scholarship. This is an award for commencing residents who are children of alumni with a $1000 Scholarship. In 2017 we have 16 family members of alumni in residence.

The formal development of a comprehensive range of scholarships and bursaries is a relatively new endeavour for International House, but one the IH Foundation believes is an invaluable investment.

IH prides itself on a tradition of diversity, multiculturalism and equity, and these Scholarships offer both the donors and the recipients the opportunity to ‘give back’, and share in the unique attributes that distinguish International House.

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The conference began at Goodenough College’s Scottish study centre, The Burn. Delegates then travelled to London to stay at the Goodenough Club, a postgraduate residence and educational trust on Mecklenburgh Square in Bloomsbury.

The annual conference provides an opportunity for the global IH Directors to participate in a variety of conference sessions and share best business practice.

International Students House (ISH) provided a welcoming venue for perennial conference favourite the IHWW Alumni and Friends reception.

A spectacular gala dinner, sponsored by StarRez, the market leader in housing and conference systems, was a fitting finale.

Director’s Visit - Hong Kong, 20 July 2016 Director’s Visit – Canberra , 17 November 2016

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1 IHWW Inc Conference held in London 2 Director visit – Canberra 3 Director visit – Hong Kong

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Number of residents at IH Brisbane: 240 2

Number of nationalities at IH Brisbane: 40 Number of family members of alumni in residence: 16

Five residents attended the National Association of Australian University Colleges Inc (NAAUC) in Dunmore Lang College and Robert Menzies College Macquarie University (Sydney) NAAUC is the peak representative body for students living on Australian tertiary campuses. As a non-profit association, NAAUC aims to coordinate a network of communication between residences on a national scale, foster goodwill amongst association members, and liaise with college heads and administration in order to provide the best possible advice and referral to Australian colleges, residential halls of residences and student villages.

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6 Photo caption: 1. Dr Nguyen Duc alumnus 1972 visiting Dr Carla Tromans at UQ, St Lucia 2.IHWW Alumni and Friends ISH - London 3.IHWW Alumni and Friends ISH - London 4. Dr Carla Tromans on tour in Hong Kong 5. Dr Carla Tromans on tour in Canberra 6. IHWW Alumni and Friends ISH - London

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INDIGENOUS YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMP Indigenous Youth Leadership Camp (IYLC) 24 residents participated in the 2016 IYLC as mentors. Co-ordinated by Taylah Cartmel (IH alumna 2014-2015) it was a very successful camp. Operating since 2012 the IYLC is traditionally held in the June/July University and School break. It is run by IH management and facilitated by IH residents, who volunteer their holiday time to participate as leaders.

Since 2012, IYLC has welcomed 112 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students to live at IH for a period of 4 days. During this time they work with IH residents in a Mentor/ Mentee relationship to develop their personal and professional development skills.

Along the way brilliant friendships are formed and huge dreams are shared for many who participate, it is a life changing experience for all.

This year it was interesting to watch both mentor and mentee develop leadership and personal skills that assist them in their future endeavours.

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Brisbane International Student Ambassador Brisbane International Student Ambassador The Lord Mayor has appointed Brisbane International Student Ambassadors from The University of Queensland (UQ) to showcase why Brisbane is the perfect international study destination.

It’s a dream come true for IH Student Council Secretary, Tiffany Shar who was sworn in as an ambassador at City Hall, to the program managed by Study Brisbane.

Tiffany’s reaction “I was extremely happy and relieved! I’ll never forget telling my parents, they had absolutely no idea I was even in the running, it was the best!”

As an ambassador Tiffany will experience the best Brisbane has to offer and use social media to share her life as student in Brisbane with her peers, networks and potential students back in her homeland USA.

Combined, the ambassadors have an audience of more than 67,000 on social media in addition to the 160,000-plus followers on Study Brisbane’s Facebook page. Cr Quirk said the Study Brisbane program had long-term benefits for the city, on top of the 75,000 annual international students enrolments.

“Study Brisbane not only puts out the welcome mat, it constantly searches for ways to help students connect with our city, improve their study experience and further their goals and ambitions,” said Cr Quirk.

As for meeting the man himself Tiffany smiles, “I was pretty nervous and being last in line at the photo queue didn’t calm me down much, but as soon as The Lord Mayor greeted me he made me feel right at home, even helping me take a ‘selfie’ because I have really short arms and he’s very tall.”

Brisbane International Student Ambassador Tiffany Shar meets Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk

“It’s a wonderful honour to represent the USA. Born and raised Stateside all my life, I’d never stayed in another country for more than 2 weeks before coming to live at IH. I can’t wait to share my story and convince fellow Americans who are considering education abroad, that studying in Brisbane is an unforgettable experience.”

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FAN MAIL

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CONTACT INFORMATION International House 1/5 Rock Street St Lucia QLD 4067 T: +617 3721 2480 E: reception@inthouse.uq.edu.au W: www.internationalhouse.uq.edu.au Image: The Jarrah Young Memorial Scholarship recipients and the Young family. L-R Peter and Tarli Young, Jakob Perrett (2015), Alison Collins (2017), Soe San Htike (2013) and Andrea Harris.

ihbris www.facebook.com/ihbrisbane https://www.linkedin.com/school/2669605/

t Brotherhood ThaM ay Prevail

BRISBANE

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE